The University

The University of Virginia was founded in 1819 by
Thomas Jefferson, whose dedication to the pursuit of knowledge began a
tradition that continues today through national and international
recognition of many of the University’s academic programs. Mr.
Jefferson’s original concept of the University of Virginia was as an “
academical village”
in which students and faculty lived and worked together, thus fostering
a sense of community. That sense of community is one of the most
prominent characteristics of the University today, and manifests itself
as a friendly and cooperative learning and research environment within
the School of Medicine and the University as a whole. The connectedness
between the School of Medicine and other components of the University
continues to be a hallmark of this institution today and results in
optimization of the quality and breadth of educational opportunities
available to our students.

The University is located in Charlottesville, Virginia
on a beautiful campus nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge
Mountains. The University is centered around the buildings and lawn
originally designed by Jefferson. It is relatively small for a State University, enrolling
fewer than 18,000 students. However, it is ranked among the best public
institutions in this Country. The Health Sciences Center is an integral
part of the main campus of the University of Virginia, allowing
students and faculty easy access to the entire spectrum of academic,
physical, and social resources available to the University
community.